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Loan charges and bank fees are costing British small businesses more compared with last year, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Many small businesses are finding it impossible to borrow because of the greater expense and tighter lending criteria, the institute said.

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The severe drought affecting the U.S. is expected to hurt many agricultural companies. According to Securities and Exchange Commission filings, these companies are bracing for lower revenues and tighter margins over the next two years.

Researchers have combed through transcripts of 30,000 executive-level conference calls, and they've figured out the signs that betray CEOs who tell fibs about their companies' finances. Swearing, using fewer hesitation words and referring to yourself in the third-person are all tell-tale signs that an executive is talking through their hat. Researchers say the study should help investors spot dishonest bosses -- and perhaps also help PR teams coach executives to sound more convincing.

The world's top pogo riders recently descended on Salt Lake City for the final round of the "Pogopalooza 7" extreme pogo tournament. Competitors as young as 14 performed such stunts as spinning, flipping and rapid-fire jumping thanks to high-tech sticks designed for maximum bounce.

Assembling a good team is only half the battle, Ken Butler writes; you also have to have the right "road map" for making the most of their talents. He shares his four steps for inspiring the best from your employees, including how to recognize top performers.

General Motors' plan for an initial public offering, coming 15 months after the company filed for bankruptcy, marks a spectacular rebound, not only for GM but also for the U.S. auto industry, according to The Economist. Competitors in Detroit were worried that a GM collapse would take down a highly integrated network of auto-part suppliers, putting the entire industry at risk. GM, Chrysler and Ford Motor, which didn't seek bankruptcy protection or a government bailout, are making money in a sluggish economy, The Economist notes.